Dispensing device



June 30, 1953 l.. M. KEI-:FE 2,643,929

DISPENSING DEVICE Filed Nov. 1o, 1948 2 sheets-sheet 1 INVENToR. LINCOLN IVI. KEEFE ATTORNEY June 30, 1953 L. M. KEEFE 2,643,929

DISPENSING DEVICE Filed NOV. l0, 1948 -2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. LINCOLN M. KEEFE ATTORNEY Patented June 30, 1953 UNITED STAT 4 Claims.

l This invention relates to improvements in dispensing devices and has for a principal object the provision of a device for dispensing book matches.

Another object of the invention is the'pro-v vision in a match dispenser for vbook matches of a plurality of columns for containing said matches and ejector means for ejecting matches from said columnssequentially. Y y

Another object of the invention is the provision in a book match dispenser of a plurality of vertical columns for containing book matches, and an ejector member moving in a path below all of the columns and carrying an ejector element for each column, said ejector elements being so larranged that each is brought into cooperation with the matches in its column when the matches in the preceding column have become exhausted.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art upon a study of the following specification and the accompanying drawings.

Referring to the drawings, which are given by way of example to illustrate the invention:

Figure l is a full elevation of the device showing a group of columns adapted to contain book matches to be dispensed;

Figure-2 is an elevation of the device, as seen from the right side of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an elevation broken away and showing the ejector means delivering matches from the first column in the series;

Figure 4- is a view similar to lFigure 3, except that the first column in the series has become exhausted and the ejector means is shown ejecting matches from the second column;

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figures 3 and 4, except that the rst and second columns have become exhausted and the ejector means is ejecting matches from the third column;

Figure 6 is a perspective view, partly broken away, of the match ejector employed in the device; and

Figure 'l is a perspective View of the bottom of one of the columns adapted to contain book matches and showing the arrangement of the discharge opening and other openings therein.

Referring rst to Figures 1 and 2, my new and improved match dispenser includes, by way of ex'- ample, tubular columns I3, II and I2, each adapted to be loaded with book matches, and these books are usually so positioned therein that they are alternately arranged with their large ends (the ends containing the match heads) facing the front and facing the back.

The left sides of each of said columns, at the bottom thereof, are provided with discharge openings through which the match books are ejected laterally. For example, the column lil is provided with matchy discharge opening I3, column II is provided with a match discharge opening I4, and the column I2 is provided with a match discharge opening I5. The lower end of the column IE] is shown in perspective in Figure '7 and the other columns I I and I2 have their lower ends identical therewith. Column I0, as stated above, has a discharge opening I3 formed therein. This is formed by cutting out the wall I6 so that it terminates; The wall Il has at the bottom thereof, a horizontal tab I8, which forms a ledge on which the bottom match book rests. The wall I9 also has a tab 2l! formed integral therewith and in parallel spaced relation to the tab I8, and it also forms a ledge upon which the bottom book of matches in the column may rest.

The space 2I between the left end of the tab I3 and the wall I5, as seen in Figure "7, and the space 22 between the left end of the tab 20 and the wal1 It, together with the opening I3, form a discharge opening for the books of matches which allows each to fall downwardly before it is entirely ejected from the column III. The column I@ has, opposite the wall I6, a Vpair of spaced longitudinal ta'bs 23 and 24 with a slotted opening 25 therebetween. This slot opening facilitates the loading of the column with book matches and atr the bottom thereof, this slot forms a clearance for the ejector elements to be presently described.

A supporting wall 2B has a bracket 21 secured thereto in any suitable manner, for example, by spot welding at the points 28 and 29. A slot 30 is formed in the bracket near the point 2B, and a second slot 30a is shown at 21, to the rear of and'in alignment with the slot 30, and another slot BI is formed in the bracket in spaced relation to the slot 30. In alignment with the slot 3 I, and to the rear of it is a slot 3 Ia. Spaced upwardly from the bracket 27, in accordance with the height of the columns used, is a bracket member 32, the main body of which lies in contact with the wall 23 and an oset portion 33 thereof performs a function to 'be presently described. A support 34 consists of two identical plate members 35 and 36 secured together by tie rods 37, 38 and 39. A plate 35 has angular tabs 43 and 4I which extend through the holes 3&3 and 3l and as the support is pressed downwardly, these tabs hook onto the solid portions of the bracket 2'! and are firmly supported thereon. The plate member 36 has identical hook-shaped tabs thereon which engage'the holes 33a and Sla.

The plate member 35 has its upper surface formed into a series of steps, one step being indicated at 02, one at 3, and one at 44. The step 44 is formed in and breaks the plate surface 45 for a purpose to be presently described, and a beveled surface 4.6 joins the surface 45. The plate surface vAll' has formed integral therewith at the left end thereof, as seen in Figure 1, a tab lll. Between the surface 41 and the surface i5 is a Vertical surface El. The step 44 is bounded by Vertical sides 68 and B9.

Each of the columns has secured thereto an angle member. The angle member on the column i is designated by the numeral 49. member on the column Il is designated by the numeral 50, and the angle member on the column l2 is designated by the numeral 5|. These angle members are all the same distance from the lower end of the column so that when they engage the stepped portions of the support, the lower ends thereof are also stepped. The column I0 also carries an angle member 52, near the upper end thereof, the column carries an angle member 53, and the column l2 carries an angle member 54.

A second support, 55, is formed of supporting plates 56 and 5l. These plates are identical and they may be secured together by tie rods, such as'the tie rod 58.

`The plate 55 has an angular tab 59 formed integral therewith on the left end thereof and this tab hooks over the offset portion 33 of the bracket member 32. A tab 00, also on the left end of the'plate member 5S, engages the bracket 32 and ensures that the plate 55 is substantially level. The plate 5'! is identical and has a corresponding angular tab, like 59, which engages the offset portion of the bracket 32. The plate member 56 has its upper surface formed into a series of steps, one step being indicated at 62, one'at 63, and one at 34. The step 54 is formed in and breaks the plate surface 5| for a purpose lto be presently described.

The plate surface 65 has formed integral therewith at the left end thereof, as seen in Figure 1, a tab 50. Between the surfaces 35 and 6| is a vertical surface 10, and step 6d is bounded by vertical sides 'H and 12.

In assembling the columns onto these spaced supports 34 and 55, the column |2 is first positioned on the supports with its angle members 5l and 54. respectively, engaging the surfaces 41 and 65. The column is pressed to the left until the angle member 5| abuts the tab 48 and the angle member 54 abuts the tab 56. 'lhen, the column is positioned with its angle member 50 on the step 43 and its angle member 53 on the step 64 and is pressed to the left until the bracket 50 abuts the surface 5? and the bracket 53 abuts the surface l0. Then, the column I0 is positioned on the supports with the angle member 49 positioned on the step 44 between the surfaces 58 and 69 and with the angle member 52 on the step Sd between the surfaces 1| and 12.

When the columns |0, and |2 are so positioned, their lower ends are stepped relative to each other to correspond with the steps formed in the supports 34 and 55.

The plate 35 has formed integral therewith a depending portion 13 and formed in said depending portion is a horizontal slot 14. This slot eX- tends into the plate 35 from the left end, as seen in Figure l. The plate 36 is identical with The angle the plate 35 and has al corresponding slot formed therein which is in horizontal alignment with the slot 14.

The plate 35 has a depending leg 84, the lower end of which forms a foot. The plate 30 has a similar depending leg 05, the lower end 81 of which forms a foot, and these feet are secured to a support 38 spaced apart from the supporting wall 25, by means of bolts 89..

An ejector device, generally designated by the numeral 15, which may best be seen in Figure 6, has a body portion generally in the form of a channel, which has a central web I6 and side portions '11 and '18. The central web 15 has a portion 19, which is bent upwardly, as shown in Figure 1, and a portion 80, which is angular with respect to the portion 79, and a third portion 8| which is also bent upwardly to form a hook or match book engaging member. The side portion 'Il has a beveled end 82 and likewise, the side portion 'i8 has a beveled surface 03 which is substantially parallel to the surface 92.

A web has side lugs, one of which is shown at 9|, formed integral therewith, and forming a flt between the portions 7l and '|8 of the channel body. One of the lugs is secured to the portion il by means of rivets 92 and the other is secured to the wall portion 18 in the same manner.

The web 90 has a portion 93 which extends upwardly susbtantiallyparallel to the portion '|9, previously described, and a portion 94 angular with respect thereto, and a hook portion 95 formed integral therewith so that the portion 94 is substantially parallel to the portion 80 and the hook 95 is substantially parallel to the hook 8|. The left end of the portion of the channel body has a curved depression 96 formed therein and the end of the side portion 'i8 of the channel body has a like curved depression 91 formed therein.

The web 98 has oppositely disposed lugs 99 and |00 formed integral therewith and a stud |0| extending through aligned holes in the side portion Il of the member 'i5 is in alignment with a stud |02 which is positioned in aligned holes in the lug |00 and the side portion T8 of the member 15. The stud |0| forms a working t in the horizontal slot 'I4 formed in the plate 35. The stud |02 engages and forms a working fit in a like slot formed in the plate 35 which is in alignment with the slot 14.

The leg 99 has one end engaging the curved depression 95 and the lug |00 has one edge engaging the curved depression 91 and thus the web 98 is substantially parallel to the web 93 at the web portion T9.

Formed integral with the web 98 is a portion |03 which is angular with respect to the main body of the web 98 and substantially parallel to the web portions 94 and 80. The web portion |03 has formed integral therewith a hook portion |04 which is substantially parallel to the hook portions 95 and 8|.

Secured on the lower surface of the central web 'I6 of the ejector member 'I5 is an angular bracket |05 to which is secured a curved arm |06 by means of rivets or spot welds |07.

Below the curved arm |06 is supported on suitable bars (not shown) a shaft |08 to which is secured a curved bail |09 whiclihas an elongated slot ||0 therein. The curved arm |06 extend through the slot H0 and is adapted to be moved by the bail,V as will presently be described.

The depending lug B5 has a hole formed therein and oneend of a 'spring IIZengages the hole The other end of the spring engages a hole formed in a lugl I'I3, which is secured on the lower surface of the lef-t hand end of the ejector member T5, asv seen in Figurev 1, thus the spring ||2 urges the ejector member |15 to the right, as seen in Figure? l, to a point where the studs IIlIv and Iii-2 areat theextreme right ends ofv the horizontal slots, one of which is shown at 14. Sin-ce the urge of the spring is diagonally upward, the web portion 80 of the hook for ejecting matches from the first column is urged up against the lower match book in that column. When thatY columi'ris exhausted, the web portion 94 of.V the hook 95 4is urgedagai-nst the lower match book in the second column by the spring I|2 and likewise, when the second column is exhausted, the web portionadjacent to the hook member is urged against the lower book' of matches in the third column.

From the above, it will be seen that my new and improved match dispenser employs a single ejector member which constitutes the only moving member and it automatically engages the match book in the next column when the present column is exhausted.

As the bail shaft |08 is swung through an arc in a counter-clockwise direction, as shown in Figure l, the bail |09 which is xed on this shaft also moves through an arc in Va counter-clockwise direction, and through the medium of the curved arm |06 the ejector member 'I5 is moved toward the left, with the result that the lowest hook of matches in the column I0 is also moved toward the left, to a point where itis discharged from the column, whereupon it falls upon the surface 'I6 within the channel body of the ejector member, slides downwardly to the left edge thereof, and falls into a suitable delivery chute (not shown).

Figure 3 shows the ejector memb-er 'I5 moving to the left and the hook 8| is pushing the lowest book of matches out from column I0. Now, when the supply of matches in the column I0 has become exhausted, the web 94, as above described,

is urged by the spring I I2 into contact with the lowest book of matches in the column l I, due to the fact that the column I0 is empty. In other words, as long as there are matches in column I0, the web 80 bears against the lowest match book in that column and consequently the webs 94 and |03 are prevented from contacting the lowest books of matches in columns II and |2. However, since the supply of book matches in column I0 is exhausted, there is no book of matches in the bottom of column I!) to be engaged by the web 80, and consequently, the ejector member is swung upwardly about the studs I0! and |02 and pivots until the web Sli is in `contact with the lowest book of matches in the column I I, so that as the bail |09 is moved in a counter-clockwise direction, the hook engages the lower book of matches in the column II, and it is pushed to the left and discharged therefrom.

In Figure 4, this action is shown. It can be seen that the hook 95 has engaged and is pushing the lowest book out from the bottom of column II.

When the supply of book matches in column I I has become exhausted, the web 94 has nothing to bear against, so the spring H2 urges the web |03 into contact with the lowest book of matches in column l2, so that the hook |04, when the ejector is moved toward the left, pushes said 6 lowest bookf'of matches out of column I2. This action is shown in Figure 5,

The column I0 is provided with Ia weight H3 which is generally U -shaped in form and in which the space between the legs of the U 'is wider than the width of the hookBI, sothat the'latt'er may pass therethrough, the weight being so positioned in column I0 that the legs of the U ex'- tend downwardly, that is to say, that the Uis inverted. The column" II is provided with an identical U-shaped `Weight IIIi and-this weight is likewise positioned incolumn I I with the-legs of the U extending downwardly. 4Column I2, the last column in theY series, is also provided Vwith aEU-shaped weight H5 which is identicaly with the weights I I3s IIII, except that in this ,column the weight is positioned so that the legs of the U; extend vertically. These weights function as follows: The weights IIB and II4, due to the fact that'they are inverted, urge the packages in the columns downwardly and when the last package has been vended from either the column I0 or the column II, the ejecting hooks 8| or 95 may pass through the space between the legs of the U unimpededly, so that the hook |04 can engage and dispense articles from the column I2. The weight |I5 in the column I2 is not inverted, so it functions to urge the articles downwardly in the column and when the last item is dispensed therefrom, the hook |04 engages the solid portion of the weight and locks the ejecting mechanism against movement.

Although I have herein shown and described by way of example one embodiment of the invention, it is obvious that many changes may be made in the arrangements shown and described, and it is also obvious that a greater or lesser number` of columns may be employed by providing on the ejector member, a corresponding number of hooks and adjacent webs, without departing from the spirit of the invention, as set forth in the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a dispensing machine having a stepped support, a plurality of article columns mounted on said support so that the lower endof each has a lateral exit on a different level from the others, aligned lateral slots in said support, a single ejector member carrying studs at one end thereof positioned in said slots, means to move said ejector member along a path defined by said slots beneath all said columns, a plurality of article engaging members rigidly secured to said ejector member in spaced relation to each other, the spacing between them being equal to the spacing of said columns, and spring means urging the other end of said ejector member upwardly to move a succeeding engaging member thereon to a position to engage and deliver articles from a succeeding column after the articles in the preceding one have become exhausted.

tion to each other, the spacing therebetween being proportionate to the spacing of saidcolumns on said support, and spring means urging one end of said ejector member upwardly, whereby said article engaging members may sequentially engage and dispense the articles in said columns. 3. A dispensing machine according to claim 2,

- in which an inverted U-shaped weight is positioned on the articles in at least one of said columns for urging the articles therein downwardly, the space between the legs of said U beingpositioned to clear the engaging member of any column in which the articles have become exhausted, so that said ejector member may move the engaging member for the succeeding column to a position to deliver articles therefrom.

4. In a dispensing machine, a plurality of article columns each having a lateral exit, al1 said exits facing in the same direction and being on different levels, an article engaging member for .each of said columns, a single ejector member forming a support and having al1 said engaging members rigidly secured thereto, means at one end of said support for defining a path along which said support may be moved, spring means urging the other end of said support upwardly, and means for moving said support back and forth along said path, said spring means being adapted to move said support to bring an engaging member for a succeeding column into engagement with articles therein after the supply of articles in the preceding column has become exhausted.

LINCOLN M. KEEFE.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Name DateY 4 Tirrell et al. July 24, 1894 Giles June 10, 1930 Rubenstein Nov. 13, 1951 Number 

